Automatic yarn splicer



AUTOMATI C YARN SPLICER Filed D80. 5, 1968 I 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTORS:CHARLES C. BELL AUIN H. JOBIN Y Rrfloit a. MM-

ATTORNEY Nbv. 11 1969 I c. c. BELL ETAL 3,477,217

AUTOMATIC YARN SPLICER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

INVENTORS: CHARLES C. BELL ALVIN H. JOB! N BY t aw ATTORNEY C. C- BELLETAL AUTOMATIC YARN SPLICER Novflll, 1969 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 5,1968 INVENTORS! CHARLES C. BELL ALVIN H. JQBIN ATTORNEY United StatesPatent U.S. CI. 57-22 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hand heldyarn splicer operated by a timed jet of air. The start of the jet istimed by the rise of a control piston actuated by compressed air, andthe jet is cut off by the shift of a valve actuated when a precisepressure is reached in a pressure chamber. The rate of build up ofpressure in the pressure chamber is adjustable. The same control pistonautomatically closes the cover of the splicing chamber and operatescutters to trim the yarn ends oil close to the zone in the yarn wherethe splice will be made, all before any splicing action begins.

This invention relates to yarn splicing apparatus operated by an airjet. It relates particularly to a mechanism for adjustably setting theduration of such air jet. The invention is particularly applicable as animprovement upon U.S. Patent No. 3,306,020, of Feb. 28, 1967, to N.Rosenstein.

Further advantages provided by the invention are the automatic operationof cutters for trimming the yarn ends close to the splicing zone, andthe automatic closing of the splicing chamber cover, all coordinated bythat same timing mechanism which also times delivery of compressed airto the splicing chamber. Overtravel of the cover closing means assuresproper closing before any splicing action begins.

Other advantageous features include aspirators which exert the propertension for cutting the yarn ends and clear away the cut ends. Theconvenient shape and compact size of the device add to its utility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The splicer of the invention consists of twoprincipal portions, a body portion and a head portion.

The body portion houses aspirator ducts for the yarn ends to be spliced,and ducts to carry compressed air for delivery to the splicing chamberin the head. Control valves for turning on and off the air supply to theaforesaid ducts are included.

The body further contains a combination piston and valve actuated by airpressure first to operate as a piston, closing the sealing cover andthen working a set of cutting blades to trim the yarn ends; then tooperate as a valve, admitting the compressed air flow to the splicingchamber. The motion of the piston accurately controls all theseoperations.

Also included is an automatic cut-01f system comprising a pressurechamber; an adjustable valve for controlling the flow of compressed airinto the chamber; and a cut-off valve actuated when the pressure in thechamber reaches a precise value, whereby after an adjustable timeinterval for pressure build-up in the pressure chamber, the flow of airto the splicing chamber is automatically cut off.

The invention is particularly applicable in conjunction with a yarnsplicing head comprising an elongated, V cross section chamber open atboth ends and having at least one slot for admitting air, longitudinallydisposed along the junction of walls forming the V. A cover for ice thechamber is also provided. Such head is constnlcted generally asdescribed and illustrated in US. Patent No. 3,306,020 of Feb. 28, 1967to N. Rosenstein.

It will be evident that application of the timing mechanism of theinvention is not confined to any one design of jet splicing head, noreven necessarily to jets used for yarn splicing purposes.

The device suitably takes the general form of a pistol handle. When theterms top and bottom, vertical and horizontal are used hereinafter, itis to be understood that these have reference to the device whenpositioned as in FIG. 2, with the splicing chamber uppermost and thehandle generally vertical; but the device can be held and used in anyattitude. Upward and downward, inward and outward as hereinafter usedlikewise refer to directions from the center of the device, when thedevice is in the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view with the cover shown in closed position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation with the cover shown in open position,wherein the dashed line shows one yarn end in string-up position, thesecond yarn end being omitted for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1 with thevalves shown in quarter section and with the cover shown in openposition.

FIG. 4 is a partial view similar to FIG. 3 with the cover shown inclosed position.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section along line 5--5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section along line 6-6 of FIG. 2 with the covershown in closed position, and with the string-up indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED DEVICE The presently preferredembodiment of this invention is more fully described below withreference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Aspirator system The body generally designated 1 comprises a main airinlet duct 2 leading vertically upward to an aspirator air inlet duct 3.The duct 3 in turn leads to an aspirator air control valve generallydesignated 4.

Referring to FIG. 3, the principal elements of valve 4 are a sleevemember 5 within which is a piston or core 6. A spring 7 urges piston 6toward the outward or closed position. In this closed position a plug 8suitably of rubber or the like, mounted on piston 6, mates with andbears against the sloping wall of a seat 9 which forms the inward end ofsleeve 5. Access of air from duct 3 to the interior of sleeve 5 is thusblocked in the closed position of valve 4. In the open position piston 6is held inward against the action of spring 7 whereby a passageway isopened between the top of plug 8 and the mating wall of seat 9.

Numeral 10 designates a ring of ports in sleeve 5 giving access from theinterior of sleeve 5 to annular channel 11. This annular channel 11 isdefined by sleeve 5 and by flanges 12, 12. As best seen in FIG. 5,channel 11 intersects horizontal duct 13, which in turn perpendicularlymeets a pair of parallel horizontal channels 15-, 15. Channels 15 leadto a pair of vertical ducts 17, 17 which are the exit ducts foraspirator air. A yarn inlet passageway 18 branches from each duct 17 atan angle and leads upward to the outside of body portion 1.

Numeral 19 designates a waste collecting chamber to which air aspiratoroutlet ducts 17 lead.

Splicing air system A duct 20 branches horizontally from main air inletduct 2. The flow of compressed air in this duct 20 is controlled byvalve 22 which has the same construction as above described for valve 4.When piston 24 of valve 22 is pressed inwardly against the action ofspring 25, valve 22 admits compressed air from duct to the interior ofthe valve sleeve. This compresed air is then free to flow out ports 26into annulus 28 and thence into vertical duct 30.

Branching horizontally from duct 30 is duct 32 leading via needle valveseat 33 into duct 34 which gives access to pressure chamber 36.

Vertically above duct 30 is a cut-off valve indicated generally bynumeral 38. This valve is somewhat similar in construction to valve 4above described, but provides a double action. This valve 38 (FIG. 3)comprises piston or core'40 normally urged inward by spring 41 bearingagainst collar 42. An annulus 44, surounding the inward section of valve38, connects the valve exteriorly to duct 30; and communicates via ports45 with a compartment 47 in the interior of the valve. A passageway,within sleeve 46, connects this first compartment 47 to a similaroutward compartment 48. Mounted on core 40, in compartment 47, is a plug49 similar to plug 8 of valve 4, adapted to close ofi compartment 48from compartment 47 when core 40 is moved outward from its normalposition. In the normal position of core 40, a plug 50 mounted on thecore closes the outward end of compartment 48. Compartment 48 is incommunication through ports 51 with annulus 52 which in turncommunicates via duct 58 with air chamber 53.

Air chamber 53 contains a piston adapted for reciprocation in thechamber, generally indicated by numeral 54. This piston comprises shaft60 and head 61. The piston is urged inward into chamber 53 by a spring65. The upper end of shaft 60 extends into arm 62 through sleeve 63. Arm62 is rockingly connected to shaft 60 by pivot pin 64. A stifliyflexible lip 66, surrounding the base of piston head 61, is designed toexpand slightly when pressure is applied against the piston head. Airleakage past the head is thus prevented and premature air flow throughports 55 is avoided. Sealing cover 74 must shut first.

Air chamber 53 is pierced part way up its wall 57 by a ring of slots 55which lead into annular chamber 56. Annular chamber 56 is joined tovertical duct 59, which leads to the splicing chamber.

Automatic timing system Referring again to pressure chamber '36, this isa vertical chamber closed at the top by an adjustable venting valve 37.Automatic timing valve 38, as previously described, is locatedperpendicular to pressure chamber 36, in well 35 which intersectschamber 36. The inward end of core 40, designated by numeral 39, thusforms a movable barrier at one side of chamber 36, in well 35.

The rate at which compressed air enters chamber 36 is accuratelyadjustable by setting the position of the needle valve in seat 33. Thusan adjustible interval of time is required for the pressure to build upin chamber 36 and develop'a force upon core 40, exerted against barrier39, sufficient to overcome the counter-thrust upon core 40 due to forcedeveloped by pressure in chamber 47 and 48 acting upon the differentialarea between areas of barrier 39' and plug 49. Since barrier 39 exposesits full area to the pressure in chamber 36, the resultant outward forceon barrier 39 will shift core 40 outward and close valve 38 whenpressure in chamber 36 rises to about 60% of line pressure. Spring 41serves to keep valve 38 in open position with no pressure in duct 30.

Splicing head A preferred splicing head is of the general constructiondescribed and illustrated in US. Patent 3,306,020 of Feb. 28, 1967 to N.Rosenstein. This head comprises an open-ended splicing chamber of Vcross section, indi cated in the drawings generally by numeral 70. The

4 splicing chamber 70 will have at least one slot longitudinallydisposed along the junction of the walls form'- ing the V and can also,e.g. for use with relatively heavy yarns, have two or more such slots.Easily interchangeable chambers can be provided, differing in width ofthe V angle and/or in having only one vs. two longitudinal slots. The Vangle can vary from say 15 to 90, being wider for heavier yarns.

In addition to the splicing chamber proper, the splicing head includes acover indicated in the drawings generally by the numeral 71. A preferredcover consists of upper and lower lids 72 and .74 hinged together athinge 76 and urged apart in jaw-like fashion by a spring. The lower lidor sealing cover 74 is provided with a gasket 77 which bears against thetop of splicing chamber 70 to cover the same tightly except for ventingholes 78, while leaving the V shaped chamber open at both ends to allowescape of air therefrom. Venting holes 78 penetrate both the upper lid72 and the lower lid 74, allowing escape of air through these holes fromthe splicing chamber.

The upper lid 72 is attached by pivot pin 80 to the upper end of arm 62.This upper lid 72 carries a pair of cutting blades 82 which meetcorresponding fixed cutting blades 84 at points closely adjacent to eachend of splicing chamber 70, to trim the yarn ends off close to thesplicing zone. (See FIG. 6.) Apair of yarn guides 86 with slots 88 areprovided at each end of splicing chamber 70 to facilitate placing yarnin chamber 70 and bringing it across one fixed cutting edge 84, throughthe chamber 70, and around the far end of the chamber without crossingthe far cutting edge.

A spring clip or button 90 is provided to hold each yarn after stringinginto the chamber 70.

Operation Numeral 92 designates a camming switch operable by the thumbto force piston 6 inward when the switch is on and to allow spring 7 tomove piston 6 outward when the switch is off.

With switch 92 in the on position whereby piston 6 is forced inward, theoperation of the device will be quite evident from the foregoingdescription. Compressed air enters from a source not shown into duct 2and then splits into two flow paths, one being the aspirator airentering duct 3 and the other being the splicing air entering duct 20.

With switch 92 in the on position, the aspirator air passes throughvalve 4 via duct 13 into channels 15 and thence passes down aspiratorducts 17.

The device is now ready for string up. One yarn end, which is designatedA in FIG. 2, is run down aspirator yarn inlet 18 at the near side of thedevice. This yarn A is then slid along yarn guide 86 until it drops intothe slot 88 which positions the yarn across fixed cutting edge 84 andthroughthe V-shaped groove of splicing chamber 70. At the far end of thesplicing chamber, the yarn is brought around yarn guide 86 at that endso that the yarn does not cross the cutting edge 84 just beyond that endof the splicing chamber; and the yarn is clipped down under the far sideclip button 90 to hold it steady. The remaining yarn is thenconveniently hand held against the handle of the splicer to keep it fromgetting tangled.

The like operation is then carried out starting at the other side of thesplicing device with a second yarn end.

Piston 24 is now pressed inward, conveniently by squeezing a button 96with the fingers holding the splicing device. I

Referring now to FIG. 3, as long as piston 24 is held in, a part of theincoming compressed air is free to flow through duct 20 and throughvalve 22 into vertical duct 30, splitting into a flow through horizontalbranch duct 32 and a fiow into compartment 47 of valve 38.

Following'now the flow through valve 38 (FIG. 3), that valve is in itsnormal position wherein core 40 is urged inward. Accordingly the air isfree to pass plug 49 and enter compartment 48 and thence pass via ports51 into annulus 52, duct 58, and air chamber 53.

Initially piston 54 will be in the downward position and cover 71 willbe open as shown in FIG. 3. The compressed air entering chamber 53 willraise piston 54 thus urging arm 62 upward. This upward motion of arm 62causes cover 71 to pivot at axis 76 thus lowering the cover towardsplicing chamber 70 and lowering the cutting edges 82 toward fixed edges84. This rotation of cover 71 is accommodated by the rocking action ofarm 62 about pivot pin 64 and the pivoting action of the cover 71 aboutpivot pin 80.

Lower lid 74 is positioned with reference to upper cutting edge 82 sothat this lower lid will close around splicing chamber 70 before theyarn end is cut and before the compressed air enters duct 59 which leadsinto the splicing chamber. At this stage piston head 61 has risen almosthigh enough to uncover slots 55 in the wall 57 of chamber 53.

As the piston head continues to rise, it lowers upper lid 72 therebylowering cutting edges 82 to trim the yarn ends off close to thesplicing zone. A moment later the rising piston closes upper lid 72 anduncovers slots 55, thus allowing compressed air from chamber 53 to reachduct 59 and jet through the one or more slots in splicing chamber 70when the splice is made. (See FIG. 4.)

The duration of the splicing action may be quite important in obtaininga clean, strong splice with certain yarns. The present device accuratelycontrols, by the rise of piston 54, the start of the jet, and permitssetting automatically the cut-off of the jet. Referring to FIG. 3, theneedle valve is adjusted in its seat 33 to regulate the rate of air flowinto duct 34 and pressure chamber 36. When the pressure has built upsufiiciently in chamber 36, the force against the solid end 39 of core40 becomes great enough to shift this core outward against the force ofspring 41 plus the force developed by the pressure in chamber 47 actingagainst the differential areas of barrier 39 and plug 49, as previouslyexplained. Thereby plug 49 is shifted to bear against the inward slopingwall between compartment 47 and compartment 48. This motion thus sealsoff compartment 47 and prevents further flow of air into air chamber 53and duct 59 and splicing chamber 70. Generally the duration thuscontrolled for flow of splicing air will be a fraction of one second. Atthe same time this outward motion of core 40 unseats plug 50 from itsposition sealing compartment 48. Air pressure in compartment 48, duct58, and air chamber 53 is quickly relieved as spring 65 drives piston 54down into air chamber 53, and the air in the chamber and ducts below thepiston is expelled and vented through valve 38 past plug 50 and out tothe atmosphere through air vent 43.

When piston 24 is now released by releasing button 96, the air flowthrough valve 22 to duct 30 and chamber 36 is cut off. The pressuredeveloped in chamber 36 is relieved in a few seconds by leakage of airpast adjustable venting valve 37. When the pressure in chamber 36 hasdropped sufiiciently, core 40 is shifted by spring 41 inward again toits normal position; and in a few seconds the device is ready foranother splicing cycle.

The ends of yarn cut ofr" by the cutters are drawn down aspirator ducts17 into collecting chamber 19 from which they can easily be cleaned outwhenever convenient.

We claim:

1. Timing mechanism for an air jet, comprising:

(1) A chamber for receiving a flow of compressed air;

(2) A piston, adapted for reciprocation in the chamber,

having a head closely fitting the chamber wall;

(3) Means to urge said piston into said chamber;

(4) In the chamber wall, a ring of slots disposed lengthwise around theperimeter, positioned to be covered by the piston head when it is nearthe bottom of the chamber and to be uncovered when the bottom of thepiston head rises in the chamber to the level of the slots;

(5) A duct communicating with said slots;

(6) Ahead of said chamber, a valve comprising a core and a sleevedefining together two compartments which are in communication when thecore is in open position and are closed ofi from each other when thecore is in closed position; the first said compartment being incommunication with an air inlet duct, and the second compartment beingin communication with the chamber above cited as item (1); and when thecore is in closed position only, the second compartment is incommunication with the outside atmosphere; whereby when said core is inopen position air flows through said valve to the chamber above cited asitem (1), and when the core is in closed position said air flow is cutoff and air expelled from said chamber is vented through said valve tothe outside atmosphere;

(7) Means to urge said core to Open position;

(8) A second chamber for receiving a flow of compressed air;

(9) Means for supplying compressed air to said second chamber whilecompressed air is being supplied to said first chamber above cited asitem (1);

(10) Means for adjusting the rate of air pressure buildup in said secondchamber;

(11) Means for applying the air pressure in said second chamber to thecore of said valve above cited as item (6) to shift said core from itsopen to its closed position, thereby terminating the fiow of air to saidfirst chamber above cited as item (1) and allowing air to be expelledfrom said first chamber and vented through said valve to the outsideatmosphere as the piston is urged into said first chamber.

2. An air jet yarn splicer wherein the air jet is timed by the mechanismof claim 1, the air jet being delivered to a splicing chamber from thefirst chamber of claim 1.

3. Splicer of claim 2 wherein the said piston, cited as item (2) ofclaim 1, is connected to a cover fitting over the splicing chamber whichcover comprises a lower lid and an upper lid which are urged apart;wherein the rise of said piston closes said lower lid before uncoveringthe slots above cited as item (4) of claim 1, and then overtravel of thepiston lowers the upper lid and uncovers said slots to delivercompressed air to said splicing chamber.

4. Splicer of claim 3 wherein said upper lid carries cutting bladeswhich cooperate with fixed cutting blades closely adjacent to each endof said splicing chamber, positioned to meet said fixed cutting bladesbefore the rising piston uncovers said slots delivering compressed airto the splicing chamber.

5. Splicer of claim 4 wherein a pair of aspirators is provided totension the yarn ends before cutting and to clear away the cut ends.

6. Splicer of claim 2 wherein the splicing chamber is open ended and ofV cross section, and has at least one slot longitudinally disposed alongthe junction of the walls forming the V.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,273,330 9/ 1966 Gonsalves 57223,306,020 2/ 1967 Rosen-stein 5722 3,339,362 9/1967 Dodson et al. 57223,407,583 10/ 1968 Irwin et al. 5722 JOHN PETRAKES, Primary Examiner US.Cl. X.R. 5734

